Flexible exercise hoop apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A flexible exercise hoop apparatus, and methods of using same, being a material formed of a pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop. The hollow loop is a continuous closed loop of rubber silicone, the invention having an internal hollow tubed cavity around its circumference, said cavity being dimensioned so as to receive a liquid, such as water or other dense liquid or ballast such as brine or beet juice.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of, and incorporates herein by reference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/188,930, filed Jul. 5, 2015, U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/202,555 filed Jul. 6, 2016 and co-pending U.S. Design Patent Application 29/683,005 filed Mar. 9, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to human cardio and exercise apparatus and related methods.

BACKGROUND

The original exercise hoop was introduced in the 1950's (best known as the Hula Hoop® of the Wham-O MFG Company) for entertainment and has been modified over the years by others who have tried to create an entertaining exercise for users. Along with creating an exercise apparatus, other have also tried to create a collapsible exercise hoop for easy transportation, storage and shipping. Additionally, others have tried to create a padded metal exercise hoop for the comfort of the user.

Conventional weighted exercise hoops consist of two pieces of metal that are welded together to create a hollow ring for the purpose of exercise. These exercise hoops can have fill to add to the effectiveness of the exercise. However, in creating a hoop for exercise purposes, such inventions disadvantageously do not allow for a comfortable workout. For instance, when the metal weighted hoop comes into contact with the body it imparts an impact force resulting in pain and possible bruising. Because of this a padded exercise hoop was designed to eliminate this discomfort. Unfortunately, such modified exercise hoop did not perform in the manner it was created to perform.

A weighted hoop publication No. 20100029446, discloses a “Padded and weighted exercise hoop” as being used for the purpose of toning and weight loss. That exercise hoop exercise s metal for the body of said hoop and padding on the outer layer of metal with liquid or other material inside for added weight. The problem with said exercise hoop is the pressure at contact point with the body can cause pain and bruising. Other existing problems of said hula hoop are its lack of function, in that it cannot be folded to make transport easy, takes up a tremendous amount of space, and can be noisy due to the materials inside the hollow body of the hoop, for example, metal balls, glass marbles, or plastic beads.

Another example of an exercise hoop is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 99-3801 “A coil ring hula hoop with enforced playing effect”. It is made of a coil ring that is flexible but the material is not soft and it will hurt the user when it comes into contact with the body thereof. Because of the coil hoop's design, when in use the metal coil becomes separated, thus allowing for the material when it comes back together with each rotation to catch the skin in between said coils and thus pinching the user causing pain and bruising.

A further example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,134, “Collapsible hula hoop”. It is an exercise hoop that folds down with an elastic cord running through the hollow body of the hoop. It solves a problem of the fixed ring of a conventional exercise hoop, but it still does not solve the problem of a comfortable workout. Nor does it fold down to a size that will transport easily.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,309 “Collapsible hula-hoop”, discloses an inflatable exercise hoop that will fold to a compact size suitable to transport easily and store with minimal space. However, said disclosure does not have the weight that it needs to maintain sufficient centrifugal and centripetal force to maintain the movement of the exercise hoop. Furthermore, the '309 invention is a fragile inner core with a fabric outer layer in a 2 layer structure. Hence while it does solve the problem of storage and transport, it is not effective for exercise and toning nor is it made of a single layer resilient material.

What is desired is an exercise hoop that overcomes the disadvantages of the references disclosed above. The invention disclosed herein overcomes such disadvantages.

SUMMARY

The invention is a flexible exercise hoop apparatus, and methods of using same, the invention comprising a material forming pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop, said hollow loop being a continuous closed loop of polypropylene and/or thermoplastic rubber silicone, the invention having an internal hollow cavity around its circumference, said cavity being dimensioned so as to receive a liquid, such as water or other dense liquid or ballast such as beet juice. The volume of liquid contained within the hollow loop preferably is a volume less that the volume of the fully inflated hollow loop, but being measured in discrete quantities so as to provide different weights to the invention. The invention is operable to cause the liquid within the hollow loop to collect when spun in a circular motion on a substantially horizontal plane, around a substantially fixed vertical axis (said vertical axis being a human user).

Said in another way, the liquid within the hollow loop becomes substantially concentrated within a portion of the hollow loop when the invention is spun or rotated in a substantially continuous circular motion along its horizontal plane by, for example, the midsection of a gyrating human body or similar induced gyration. The effect of a gyrating human motion applied to a continually changing portion of an inside wall of the hollow loop causes the liquid within the hollow loop to experience centripetal acceleration and the associated frictional and related forces thereof tending to cause the liquid to build up within certain other portions of the hollow loop. In physics, circular motion is a movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. It can be uniform, with a constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or non-uniform with a changing rate of rotation. The amount, and thus weight, of the liquid received within the hollow loop allows for different levels of exercise. In use, the invention generally flattens wherein an upper half of the interior wall contacts a lower half of the interior wall with a film of liquid, such a water therein-between. The bulk of the liquid, such as water, is caused by the circular motion to collect in other portions of the hollow loop.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention including the features, advantages and specific embodiments, reference is made to the following detailed description along with accompanying Figures.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the invention showing the location of the cross sectional cut of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the invention showing ridges that are integrally molded into the outside wall of the invention around the circumference thereof;

FIG. 1C is a close-up view of a portion of the invention showing the ridges that are integrally molded as part of the outside wall of the invention around the circumference thereof;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the invention showing the hollow cavity for receiving a liquid;

FIG. 3 is a view of the invention being used as a resistance band;

FIG. 4 is a view of the invention being used as an exercise hoop;

FIG. 5A is a view of the exercise hoop with an aperture and plug and accelerometer module;

FIG. 5B is a block diagram of the accelerometer module;

FIG. 6 is a view of the invention folded and collapsed;

FIG. 7 is a user terminal showing a graphical user interface associated with an application coupled to the accelerometer module; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the steps of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the making and using of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention is discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. Some features of the preferred embodiments shown and discussed may be simplified or exaggerated for illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the invention 100 showing the location of the cross sectional cut of FIG. 2 . The invention 100 is a flexible exercise hoop apparatus comprised of a material forming pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop 101, said hollow loop being preferably a continuous closed loop of polypropylene and/or thermoplastic rubber silicone. The material composition of the flexible, hollow loop can be of any pliable rubber material that is easily bent or flexed. These materials can be twisted, stretched, or deformed without breaking and will return to their original shape when the stress is removed. The scope of the invention includes several types of pliable rubber materials, including platisol, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), natural rubber derived from the sap of the rubber tree. It is very flexible and resistant to abrasion and tearing; neoprene, also known as polychloroprene, which is a synthetic rubber that is extremely durable and flexible. It's also resistant to heat, chemicals, and weathering, making it ideal for use in harsh environments. The scope of the hollow loop of the invention further includes silicone rubber which is a highly flexible and heat-resistant material. It has excellent resistance to temperatures and UV light. The invention can further be comprised of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) which is a type of synthetic rubber that is very flexible and has excellent resistance to heat, ozone, and weathering. The scope of the hollow loop of the invention further includes nitrile rubber which is a synthetic rubber that is very strong and resistant to oils and other chemicals. The flexibility and other properties of the flexible hollow rubber can be altered by changing the polymer structure or adding fillers, plasticizers, and other additives.

An aperture 501 for receiving a liquid into the impervious flexible hollow loop and a closure mechanism 502 dimensioned to fit the aperture is provided thereon. The invention is structurally a hollow ring torus having the surface generated by the revolution of a circle around a line of its plane. The invention is therefore a tube with constant diameter and circular bore. A ring torus has 2 primary measurements: that is R which is the distance from the center of the circular tube to the center of the torus, and r is the radius of the circular hollow tube. In the present invention, R is in the range of between 8 inches and 36 inches corresponding to a circumference of between 50 inches and 226 inches and r is between ½ inch and 5 inches corresponding to a circumference of 3.14 inches and 31.4 inches. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the invention 100 showing ribs or ridges 102 that are integrally molded into the outside wall of the material forming pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop 101. The ribs or ridges are located latitudinally around the circumference of the material forming pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop 101.

FIG. 1C is a close-up view of a portion of the invention 100 showing ribs or ridges that are integrally molded into the outside wall of the material forming pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop 101, said ribs or ridges covering a portion of the wall around the circumference of the pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop 101.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the invention across the lines seen in FIG. 1 showing the cavity 201 for receiving a liquid. As seen in FIG. 2 , the invention 100 has a cavity 201 around its circumference, said cavity being dimensioned so as to receive a liquid 202, such as water or other viscous liquid or ballast such as beet juice.

As seen in FIG. 3 , the invention 100 can be used as an exercise resistance band for isometric training. Isometric exercises are tightening (contractions) of a specific muscle or group of muscles. During isometric exercises, the muscle doesn't noticeably change length. The affected joint also doesn't move. Isometric exercises help develop and maintain strength. The invention 100 is uniquely positioned for isometric exercises as these are done in one position without movement. Isometric exercises also enhance the core and stabilization.

Preferably, the invention 100 is used as seen in FIG. 4 . The volume of liquid contained within the hollow loop 101 preferably is a volume less that the volume of the fully inflated hollow loop 101, but being measured in discrete quantities so as to provide different weights to the invention 100. The amount of liquid in an embodiment of the invention that has a preferred R and r (as defined herein) is between 1 and 50 ounces, preferably between 8 and 24 ounces. In an embodiment, the invention 100, when used correctly, causes the liquid within the hollow loop 101 to collect within different interior locations therein when a circular motion is imparted thereto on a substantially horizontal plane and around a substantially fixed vertical axis, said vertical axis being a human user 400 as seen in FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a view of the invention 100 being used as an exercise hoop.

Said in another way, the liquid within the hollow loop 101 becomes substantially concentrated within a portion of the hollow loop 101 when the invention 100 is rotated in a substantially continuous circular motion along its horizontal plane by, for example, the midsection of a gyrating human body 400 or similar induced gyration. The effect of a gyrating human 400 motion applied to the hollow loop 101 causes the liquid within the hollow loop 101 to experience centripetal acceleration and the associated frictional and related forces thereof tending to cause the liquid to build up within certain other portions of the hollow loop 101. In physics, circular motion is a movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. It can be uniform, with a constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or non-uniform with a changing rate of rotation. The amount, and thus weight, of the liquid received within the hollow loop 101 allows for different levels of exercise. When in correct use, the invention generally flattens wherein an upper half of the interior wall approaches contact with a lower half of the interior wall with a film of liquid, such a water therein-between. The bulk of the liquid, such as water, is caused by the circular motion to be collected in other portions of the hollow loop 101 during use. The location of the liquid, in relation to the interior walls of the hollow loop 101 may continuously change due to, inter alia, precession. Precession is the change of angular velocity and angular momentum produced by a torque.

FIG. 5A is a view of the exercise hoop 100 with an aperture 501 for receiving the liquid and a closure mechanism 502 dimensioned to fit the aperture and an accelerometer module 503 for recording the force experienced by the exercise hoop. Referring to FIG. 5B, said accelerometer module 503 includes an accelerometer 503A for sensing acceleration and motional forces, a processing submodule 503B for conditioning such sensed data and structuring it into data units for transmission and a transmitter submodule 503C for transmitting such sensed faces to a receiver. Such transmitter submodule 503C is configured to structure and transmit such data units in compliance with industry protocols such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Low Power Protocol for IOT, NB-IOT, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, LoRa, LPWAN, LTE or 5G standards. Power supply 503D is operable to provide power to the various submodules of the accelerometer module 503. Power can be, for example, a rechargeable battery. In an embodiment, a power charging port is located on the side of the accelerometer module 503 for receiving power from an external power supply. The invention further comprises a receiver (not shown) for receiving the data units and a processor and related application for converting the data units into measure quantities such as calories burned, equivalent steps taken, and intensity. FIG. 6 is a view of the invention 100 in a folded and collapsed condition.

The invention is an exercise apparatus, comprising a pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal tubed cavity having radius R, an aperture in a side wall of the pliable flexible material providing ingress into the internal tubed cavity and a closure mechanism dimensioned to fit within the aperture. The aperture is dimensioned to receive a liquid within the internal tubed cavity. The closure mechanism can be a push-in plug, a screw-in plug or cap or a one way valve operable to release air from the internal tubed cavity but retain the liquid therein. The exercise apparatus is operable to provide a user a cardio-based workout.

In an embodiment, the pliable, flexible, resilient material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastisol, PVC, polypropylene, thermoplastic rubber silicone, natural rubber, neoprene, polychloroprene, silicone rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), and nitrile rubber. Further, the invention is a pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal tubed cavity having radius r thereof, in combination with a quantity of a liquid within the internal tubed cavity.

In an embodiment, the liquid is water and the quantity of water within the internal tubed cavity is of a volume less than the volume of the fully inflated internal tubed cavity. Alternatively, the liquid can be brine or beet juice or other liquid organic substance. The invention further comprises an accelerometer module embedded into the outer wall of the pliable, flexible, resilient material.

The accelerometer module further comprises an accelerometer submodule operable to sense motion and generate signals corresponding thereto. The module further has a processor, the accelerometer submodule coupled to the processor along a bus for conditioning the signals and converting into data units. The accelerometer further has a transmitter for transmitting the data units to a receiver coupled to a cellular device having an application thereon for receiving and storing the data units and mapping the data units to parameters associated with the use of the exercise apparatus. FIG. 701 shows a user terminal 701 with a graphical user interface 702 associated with an application coupled to the accelerometer module. The transmitter submodule transmits the data units according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, WiFi, Low Power Protocol for IOT, NB-IOT, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, LoRa, LPWAN, LTE or 5G standards 5.

The invention further has ribs or ridges integrally molded into a portion of the side wall of the continuous loop but around the entire circumference thereof. In an embodiment, the hollow tube can be monochromatic, or patterned or clear with the liquid therein being a non-toxic fluorescent liquid.

The invention is structurally a hollow ring torus having the surface generated by the revolution of a circle around a line of its plan with a tube with constant diameter and circular bore. The ring torus is pliable and flexible and has 2 primary measurements being the distance R from the center of the circular tube to the center of the torus, and r being the radius of the circular hollow tube. R is in the range of between 8 inches and 36 inches corresponding to a circumference of between 50 inches and 226 inches and r is in the range between ½ inch and 5 inches corresponding to a circumference of 3.14 inches and 31.4 inches. Preferably, the material forming the pliable, flexible, resilient hollow loop 101 has a circumference of 75 inches and the internal tubed cavity has a circumference of 8 inches.

The invention can be manufactured using a slush molding technique. Slush molding is a closely related but somewhat different technique to dip molding and is used for the production of flexible and semi-rigid moldings, where a detailed surface finish is required on the outside of the molding. A dip molding coats the outside of the tool and slush molding coats the inside of the tool. The weight of the invention without water is preferably between 10 ounces and 50 ounces.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 , the invention further comprises a method 800 of cardio-based exercise comprising the steps of: providing a pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal tubed cavity around the circumference thereof and an aperture in a side wall of the pliable flexible material providing an ingress into the internal cavity and a closure mechanism dimensioned to fit within the aperture, the aperture dimensioned to receive water within the internal cavity 801; filling the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal tubed cavity with water 802; placing the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal tubed cavity with water therein around a midsection of a human body 803; imparting a rotational motion in a horizontal plane in relation to the human body to the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop so that it begins to rotate around a substantially vertical axis 804; and gyrating the midsection of the human body in a circular motion so as to continually induce or impart a corresponding circular motion to the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop so as to substantially maintain the position thereof relative to the human body 805. In an exemplary illustration of the benefits of the disclosed method, in a study of 108 pound participant, the average heart rate in a 15 minute workout averaged 185 beats per minute, while in a 10 minute workout, the user averaged a heart rate of 10 beats per minute. In the 15 minute workout, the average kilocalories burned per minute averaged 6.1 kcal and in the 10 minute workout, the average kilocalories burned per minute averaged 6.9 kcal. The total kilocalories burned in a 15 minute workout was 92 kcal and in a 10 minute workout, the total kilocalories burned was 70 kcals. Average VO2 in the 15 minute workout was 25 ml/kg/minute and in the 10 minute workout was 28 ml/kg/minute.

The embodiments shown and described above are only exemplary. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used herein. Various alterations, modifications and substitutions can be made to the disclosed invention and the system that implements the present invention without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop with a radius R having an internal tubed cavity with radius r; an aperture in a side wall of the pliable flexible material providing an ingress into the internal tubed cavity; a closure mechanism dimensioned to seal the aperture; the aperture dimensioned to receive a liquid within the internal tubed cavity; and the exercise apparatus operable to provide a user a cardio-based workout.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pliable, flexible, resilient material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastisol, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, thermoplastic rubber silicone, natural rubber, neoprene, polychloroprene, silicone rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), and nitrile rubber.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, in combination with a liquid within the internal cavity.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein the liquid is water and the quantity of water within the internal tubed cavity, is of a volume less than the volume of the fully inflated internal tubed cavity.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising ribs or ridges integrally molded into a portion of the side wall of the continuous loop but around the entire circumference R thereof.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exercise apparatus is structurally a hollow ring torus having the surface generated by the revolution of a circle around a line of its plan with a tube with constant diameter and circular bore.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ring torus has 2 primary measurements being R which is the distance from the center of the circular tube to the center of the torus, and r is the radius of the circular hollow tube.
 8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein R is in the range of between 8 inches and 36 inches corresponding to a circumference of between 50 inches and 226 inches.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein r is between ½ inch and 5 inches corresponding to a circumference of 3.14 inches and 31.4 inches.
 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein R is in the range of between 8 inches and 36 inches and r is between ½ inch and 5 inches.
 11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer module embedded into the outer wall of the pliable, flexible, resilient material.
 12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the accelerometer module further comprises an accelerometer submodule operable to sense motion and generate signals corresponding thereto; a processor, the accelerometer submodule coupled to the processor along a bus for conditioning the signals and converting into data units; and a transmitter for transmitting the data units to a receiver coupled to a cellular device having an application thereon for receiving and storing the data units and mapping the data units to parameters associated with the use of the exercise apparatus.
 13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmitter submodule transmits the data units according to a protocol selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, WiFi, Low Power Protocol for IOT, NB-IOT, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, LoRa, LPWAN, LTE or 5G standards.
 14. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism is one selected from the group consisting of a push-in plug, a screw-in plug or cap or a one way valve.
 15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one-way valve is operable to release air from the internal tubed cavity while retaining the liquid therein.
 16. A hooped exercise apparatus operable to provide a user a cardio-based workout, comprising: a pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop with an internal tubed cavity wherein the pliable, flexible, resilient material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastisol, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, thermoplastic rubber silicone, natural rubber, neoprene, polychloroprene, silicone rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), and nitrile rubber; an aperture in a side wall of the pliable flexible material providing an ingress into the internal tubed cavity, the aperture dimensioned to receive a liquid within the internal tubed cavity; and a closure mechanism dimensioned to seal the aperture.
 17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 manufactured using a slush molding process.
 18. The exercise apparatus of claim 16, in combination with a liquid within the internal cavity wherein the liquid is water and the quantity of water within the internal tubed cavity, is of quantity of between 1 ounce and 50 ounces.
 19. A method of cardio-based exercise comprising the steps of: providing a pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal tubed cavity around the circumference thereof and an aperture in a side wall of the pliable flexible material providing an ingress into the internal cavity and a closure mechanism dimensioned to fit within the aperture, the aperture dimensioned to receive a liquid within the internal cavity; partially filling the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal cavity with a liquid; placing the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop having an internal cavity with liquid therein around a midsection of a human body; imparting a rotational motion in a horizontal plane in relation to the human body to the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop so that it begins to rotate around a substantially vertical axis; and gyrating the midsection of the human body in a circular motion so as to continually induce a corresponding circular motion along a horizontal plane of the pliable, flexible, resilient material forming a continuous loop so as to substantially maintain the position thereof relative to the human body.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the imparted circular motion to the invention generally flattens the pliable, flexible, resilient material such that an upper half of the interior wall contacts a lower half of the interior wall with a film of liquid therein-between and the bulk of the liquid is collected in other portions of the hollow loop due to the circular motion. 